A piece of artwork created by a local man to help Humboldt and area people heal from the April 6 bus crash got a good reception in that community, says Daryl Lowey, who asked Clint Jackson to create it.
Jackson created an aluminum sculpture about six feet by four feet that depicts all 16 people killed in the tragedy surrounded by two big angel’s wings and two crossed hockey sticks.
On the hockey sticks it says, “Forever Broncos, 2018, April 6.” Also, on one stick a quote from Humboldt mayor Rod Muench is paraphrased. It says “We will stickhandle through.”
Lowey and Jackson took the piece to Humboldt the weekend of April 27.
Lowey says about a dozen representatives of the community, including one Broncos rep, were on hand to receive it.
"We just very quietly presented it to them," he says.
Lowey says a photo of the piece was posted on the Facebook page of a Humboldt resident and response to the piece there has been "unbelieveable." He says the post has obtained about 285 "likes and comments and so on and so forth."
When interviewed by the Albertan before the trip, Lowey wasn't sure what the town would do with the piece but believed it might be raised in the local arena.
"Right now it's in their office. I believe they are going to post it in their arena, but I won't know until they actually do something with it," Lowey said last week.
"And I agree with them. Right now they are so overwhelmed with things like this, they're just not sure what to do with them; build a memorial wall or what they actually want to do with it.
"So until they make up their mind, they're just setting things aside until they can collectively group together and make those decisions."
Before going to Humboldt Lowey and Jackson took the artwork to the main Tim Hortons in Olds and to the home opener for the Mavericks Tier 1 lacrosse team at the Sportsplex.
At the lacrosse game, a tribute was paid to the Broncos, and in particular to Olds resident Graysen Cameron, who as a member of the Broncos, was injured in the crash. Cameron is also a member of the Mavericks.
Cameron took time out to sign the artwork while it was on display at the game.
That was an emotional moment for Lowey.
"That was probably one of the proudest moments of my life was seeing him walk up and sign it. It was a very proud moment for me," he says.
